With the end of the semester only a few weeks away, chances are your student has several exams, quizzes, projects, and more due before the Spring semester is officially over. As students navigate in person and virtual learning, it is important to remind your student how crucial it is to maintain their academic integrity when submitting any assignment.

Joshua Morgan, Program Manager for Academic Integrity in the Office of The Vice President for Faculty Development & Advancement, offers some encouragement and advice regarding academic integrity as we wrap up the semester. Read his message below:

Thank you for your dedication to your student’s success! I know that you are deeply invested in your student’s efforts to complete their studies in a quality manner.

Whether your loved one is a seasoned college student or acclimating to FSU’s rigorous expectations, part of their responsibility is to exercise academic integrity. Obviously, you would never want your student to learn from an unknowledgeable professor, get medical advice from a fraudulent doctor, or hire an unethical lawyer; FSU similarly expects students to engage their coursework honestly so they can one day serve their communities with merit-based skills and credentials.

Why do good students sometimes act dishonestly? Some explanations from students include:

• Struggling with a subject and not knowing where to seek help.
• Being surprised by the pace and rigor of college academics (versus high school expectations).
• Wanting to avoid disappointing loved ones by not completing a specific major or program.
• Neglecting to register their accommodation needs with The Office of Accessibility Services.
• Lacking awareness that their behaviors were violations of the Academic Honor Policy.

How can you help your student maintain their integrity? Encourage them to do the following:

• Read the Academic Honor Policy and their instructors’ syllabi. Adhering to both is required!
• Participate in the Academic Center for Excellence’s tutoring and consultation services.
• Meet with the Office of Accessibility Services. Disability accommodations may help them maximize their potential; having extra help available doesn’t hurt – even if it is not used.
• Get familiar with Honorlock: It’s an exam proctoring system that monitors testing behavior.
• Use iThenticate to check essays and related projects for plagiarism before submitting them.
• Be cautious when using websites, social media, and apps for studying. Unauthorized usage of, or group work on, platforms like GroupMe, Chegg.com, Snapchat, TikTok, etc. can lead to Academic Honor Policy allegations – and remember that people can take screenshots to document dishonest behavior!
• Communicate with professors as a first resort. They want to help but that’s difficult to do if students wait to ask for help at the last minute. If something in your student’s life will impact their academic performance, remind them to notify their professors early. Case Management can help advocate for students as well.

If you want to learn more about academic integrity and helping your students to problem solve, please visit https://fda.fsu.edu/academic-resources/academic-integrity-and-grievances/academic-honor-policy and read Resolving Academic Problems: A Step-by-Step Guide for Students.

Wishing your students well,

Joshua Morgan, Program Manager for Academic Integrity
Office of The Vice President for Faculty Development & Advancement